Letter: Assistant superintendent title not quite window dressing

I found your article regarding the discussion and issuing of a new job description and starting salary at Diman Regional School District very interesting. While the title, “principal/assistant superintendent-director” does not provide any more or any less authority to the principal, it does significantly determine the process of hiring this individual.

Comment

The Herald News, Fall River, MA

Writer

Posted Jul. 3, 2014 at 2:00 PM

Posted Jul. 3, 2014 at 2:00 PM

» Social News

I found your article regarding the discussion and issuing of a new job description and starting salary at Diman Regional School District very interesting. While the title, “principal/assistant superintendent-director” does not provide any more or any less authority to the principal, it does significantly determine the process of hiring this individual.

Should the regional school committee have changed the title to “principal,” it would have given the superintendent the ability to appoint/hire the next principal unilaterally without School Committee approval or consent.

This would be a major concession of authority and a great expression of trust on behalf of the regional school committee had they made that change. By maintaining the title, the superintendent may recommend to the regional school committee for their approval.

As a result, the city of Fall River has three votes on the regional school committee, thus having significant control over who will be hired for that position. I would hope that such an important position to the Diman community as a whole would not be used as political patronage.

The regional school committee member quoted in the article should really have thought through his comments.

Brian Bentley has been the only person holding that position for the last 12 years and has demonstrated nothing but class, professionalism and dedication while advocating for what he felt was best for the Diman community.

It is embarrassing that a member of the regional school committee would besmirch Mr. Bentley’s reputation in such a public forum.